See "Letter Requesting An Informational Interview" above. KEY TIP -- ask for advice rather than if they have job openings because everyone can give you advice, very few can give you a job. As you ask them questions, they are likely to tell you if their company has any openings anyway.

Adhere to the 10-15 time frame and only stay longer if the individual absolutely insists. It will show you are a person of your word and respectful of their time.

Be prepared with your questions and a pad to take notes.

Start off your conversation by briefly giving them your background – 30 seconds max – major, graduation date, and other key qualifications. Be sure to emphasize the skills and qualifications most sought after by employers in your fields of interest!

For example, "I am graduating in May with a degree in ____. While in college I worked 20 hours per week while going to school full time. I am active in ______ organization and have worked as a ____ for the past two years where I developed strong communication skills assisting hundreds of customers."

Then ask them questions from the sections below depending on what your goals are.

After the meeting, send a thank you note by the very next day. If your contact is on LinkedIn, thank them from there and ask them to be part of your network.

Finally, when you find a job, make sure to let all the folks who gave you advice know and thank them again for their help. This will help to solidify your network so you can go back to your network of contacts the NEXT time you look for a job and remember networking is always a two-way street. It must benefit both persons to be most effective, so just as you asked your network for help when you needed it, be prepared to return the favor.